The White House and Ukraine have made significant progress toward reaching an agreement that would provide the U.S. with access to Ukraine's rare earth minerals and tighten the long-term relationship between Kyiv and Washington,

White House national security adviser Mike Waltz said on Friday he expects Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy to sign a minerals agreement with the United States as part of efforts to end the Ukraine war,

The progress in talks comes after President Donald Trump and Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy traded sharp rhetoric about their differences over the matter.

President Trump on Friday said his administration is close to finalizing a deal with Ukraine to access its natural resources as its war with Russia continues.